Conference napalm::guitar

    Well, I hope that Steve called DB in person before the story broke.
     If not, if anyone sits near Dave, they should wander over
    with the smelling salts and get him up off the floor. :-)
    
    Kevin

    Don't worry about db. last I heard he was gonna become a professional
    airline passenger...
    
    Edd

    Steve Morse sucks!

    Now, now. We have a special note in the MUSIC conference for that kind
    of stuff.
    
    - Ram 

    re: Calm down db
    
    I am both "calm" and "down".  ;-)
    
    	db

    
    
    Does anyone know why he's making this change to
    his vocation?  Could he, perhaps, be tired of 
    being a pro musician?
                       
    frank
    

    No, I think it's a combination of several things:
    
    1) Morse has always been intense about everything he's ever done.
       As a guitar player he practiced CONSTANTLY, and I do mean that
       literally.  It was rarely out of his hands.  Part of it could
       be that he needed a break.
    
    2) He has always been an (intense) aviation buff.  What better thing
       to do if not playing guitar if your an aviation buff?
    
    3) He just got married.  Could be that the road life of a musician
       (he told me that he only makes money on tours, not records) was
       just not compatable with a stable marriage.  Who knows?  Maybe
       there's even a Steve Morse Jr. planned or even in the oven.
    
    4) It's always been hard for him to get record deals.  You've heard
       it before.  Could be that he just wanted a little more artistic
       freedom.  Could be that he wanted to do music entirely for himself
       without any outside pressures (like bread on the table).
    
    	db

    It's not at all difficult for me to understand his decision. Contrary
    to peoples' images of wealthy rock stars, most musicians, even highly
    talented and well-known ones, make very little from their efforts. It's
    also true that recording nets very little for an artist. Mostly they
    make money from touring, the records just serving to advertise their
    concert gigs. And touring is a real grind. It might sound romantic to
    fly all over the country playing to screaming hordes of fans every
    night, but the realities of living out of a motel room, grabbing your
    equipment and hopping a plane every time you wake up, and eating junk
    food til your stomach rots are enough to unnerve all but the most
    committed masochist.
    
    As far as I can see, the music business is a ladder with the top
    rung missing. The people who seem to be most content in it are ones
    who have learned to eke out a living playing clubs, weddings, etc.,
    and maybe doing a little really creative work on the side. That
    may be satisfying enough in itself, but it still doesn't fit very
    well with the concept of a "normal" family life. 

    So what happened to Morse? He woke up one day and realized that
    he was better off living his life for himself and the people he
    loves rather than trying to crank out one more album and one more
    tour to satisfy a few die-hard fans. I have to give him credit myself
    for being smart enough to realize he was headed down a dead-end
    before he was face to face with the back wall.

    My guess is that he'll be a lot happier having a regular
    income-producing job so that he doesn't have to depend on his musical
    efforts to support his family. I wouldn't be at all surprised if
    he didn't keep on playing on the side, possibly recording and playing
    in local clubs as db has suggested.
    
    More power to him.
    
    - Ram

    I agree with Ram. I toured once (back in 1972 - fresh out of high
    school) & it was an experiance that I don't ever care to re-live.
    I play weekend gigs & an occasional week at a club. Mostly playing
    private parties. It's fun & I never have to leave town. My wife
    is tolerant of the guitars & other music necessities, so long as
    I make time for my kids & her.
    
    I often hear of bands ripping up hotel rooms & causing general havok
    when on the road. Hotel rooms get old real fast.
    
    			Jens_happy_at_home_but_not_a_couch_potato

Two of my favorites have just released new albums.

	1. Larry Carlton's new one is out! I have heard cuts and I really 
	   like the little I've heard. Also he's out on tour again and 
 	   will be at Fiddlers Green in Denver on June 14th with Spyro Gyra 
	   and Grover Washington Jr. look for a show near you soon!


	2. Steve Morse's new album is out too! It's called 
	   "High Tension Wires" and it's sounds pretty good 
	   too from what I've heard. 

Anyone else have more input on these or quick reviews?

    I have both (these guys are my two top favorites).
    
    CARLTON:  On Solid Ground
    
    Carlton's new album is going to be a joy to those who prefer his
    older electric albums to the acoustic stuff he had been doing more
    recently.  The album is mostly electric guitar (one tune is done
    with a 335!).
    
    My two favorites are "All in good time" and "Bubble Shuffle" (not
    sure about the title of the latter).  These are very much like
    the tunes on the first couple of solo albums ("Room 335" and "Strikes
    Twice") although they have extremely modern production as does most
    of the album.
    
    Also of interest are covers of Steely Dan's "Josie" and a
    surpringly straight cover of "Layla".
    
    MORSE: High Tension Wires
    
    This is a VERY different album.  The first part of it is sorta
    Morsian-folk.  Lots of acoustic guitar set in (again) a very
    lush modern production (lots of synth pads and stuff).  At times
    I'm reminded of Mike Oldfield when I listen to it.
    
    I'm actually somewhat dissapointed by most of it.  Although it does
    sound awesome, the production is a little too busy for me, but I almost
    never appreciate a Morse album until I've listened to it for awhile.
    
    There are some cuts that immediately stand out to me.
    
    "Country Colors" is a beautiful inspirational type song.  For those
    of you who manage to catch Morse's solo gigs, this was one of the
    unreleased tunes he jammed to on the 4-track.
    
    "Tumeni Notes" - the title is a pun referring to the speed of the
    playing.  This one COOKS like nothing since, perhaps, "The Great
    Spectacular".
    
    I also like "Highland Wedding" which is sorta in the Dregsian Celtic
    flavor.
    
    	db

    I love the tune lephrechaun promenade on Morse's new album. It's
    actually the Dregs. Ensoniq sponsored it and released it & 1 other
    tune on a CD they distributed thru music stores. I actually prefer
    the work Steve does with the 'group' as opposed to his own stuff
    but it's all great.
    

    
    I love the first tune on the CD - Ghostwind.  Very drifty, and gets
    your attention right away to let you know you better sit down, shut
    up, and listen up.  I saw Steve last night at Al's Pumphouse in 
    Greenville, SC.  UN-BEE-LEE-VA-BLE.  He performed songs from the Dregs,
    "High Tension Wires" and some new ones he was testing out for his new
    album.  The place was packed and very appreciative.  Steve talked to
    the audience a lot between songs and was witty and funny.  I like this 
    guy.  He struck me as down to earth even though his talent is so awesome 
    we should have placed his music on board Voyager and Pioneer so aliens 
    on other planets would be so blown away they'd never want to mess with 
    us.  
    
    -pat
    
    
    Steve's gear (for the hardware junkies):
    
    o	Digitech dsp128
    o	Lexicon pc41 delay
    o	ESQ synth
    o	Peavey MIDI mixer
    o	Peavey EQ
    o	Peavey power amp
    
    o	Ampeg 4x12 cab
    o	Peavey 4x12 cab
    
    (Steve also had two other amps)
    
    o	small Peavey combo  
    o	Marshall jcm25/50 head

    > He (Steve Morse) struck me as down to earth even though his talent 
    > is so awesome we should have placed his music on board Voyager
    
    Interesting.  I've had that same reaction too and I've talked to
    him on several occasions.  He just seems like an amazingly down
    to earth guy.
    
    BTW, he gives the most AMAZING "clinics" you can imagine.  The things
    he says are like so obvious once you hear them, and yet they might 
    have never occurred to you.
    
    I owe a great deal to him, which is why I'm sure I appear so insanely
    fanatical about him.
    
    	db

    Just picked up Morse's new album.  Another vote for it here.  Just
    great!
    
    Saw him and the Dregs in the Agora in New Haven, Connecticut once in
    '82, I think, and was just...simply...floored!
    
    (Also saw Roy Buchanon there about two weeks later and was equally
    impressed.  He seemed to have the kind of touch that Morse will get
    with age)
    
    Great album, go buy it,
    
    Will

    I had the extreme pleasure of seeing Steve Morse (along with T. Levitts
    & the Bad Habitz) for the 1st time this weekend. I won't even attempt
    to say how amazed I was by Steve. He did say that his newest album with
    the Steve Morse band should be available in Jan 1991, although its been
    delayed several times.
    
>RE: DREGS::BLICKSTEIN "Conliberative"   
>    
>    BTW, he gives the most AMAZING "clinics" you can imagine.  The things
>    he says are like so obvious once you hear them, and yet they might 
>    have never occurred to you.
>    
>    I owe a great deal to him, which is why I'm sure I appear so insanely
>    fanatical about him.
>    
    Could you explain any more about some of these obvious things, or
    point me to a note which does so?
    
    Here's a quick review of the show. Sorry if it's in the wrong place.
    1) T. along with a drummer and bassist played about a 45 min set of
       T.'s music. Pretty good straight ahead fusion/rock, nothing
       overly impressive.
    2) Steve came out solo. Incredible set of 4-5 classical tunes,
       including bach's Joy (sp?). Then he switched to electric for
       a few tunes, taking you out to the edge!
    3) Steve's bass player in the S.M. band (who happens to live near the
       bar) came up for a couple of duets, and T's drummer joins them
       for a tune.
    4) T.'s whole band comes back out and it gets pretty wild. They just
       started jamming on old tunes like Heartbreaker and Dazed & confused
       (led zep), Freeway Jam and Going Down (Beck), and Commuter? (Dregs),
    	with both bass players playing on a couple of those songs. T.'s
    	bass player (tom lilly) sang on the covers with lyrics, sounded
        great. (jimi page would have thrown in the towel had he heard
        these, JMHO of course).
    
    Although all the other musicians were excellent, Steve just seems
    to be on a different level. My only regret about the show was wait-
    ing this long (~15 yrs) to see Steve Morse. btw the show was in a
    small bar in the Hartford Ct. area. Cost was $10 and it was only
    about 1/2 full. I watched from 10 feet away.
    r�

    > Commuter?
    
    Probably "Celestrial Terrestrial Commuters" by the Mahavishnu
    Orchestra, "Birds of Fire" album.
    
    The Dregs used to do this a LOOOONNNNGG time ago (like 1975).  I'd
    be pretty surprised if that WAS what they did, but it seems the most
    likely.
    
>    Could you explain any more about some of these obvious things, or
>    point me to a note which does so?
    
    Somewhere in this conference is a summary of a Morse clinic that I
    wrote.  I really don't know where.
    
    I thnk Steve's overall philosophy boils down to that "doing" music is
    really a "cerebral" activity, not a physical activity.
    

    Morse has a new column in GFTPM.  It's been in the last 2 issues (one
    with Vernon Reid on the cover and one with Jason Becker on the cover -
    the latest one.)
    
    Mike

I decided a few months ago that I was going to learn to play (really play, not 
just get through) a number of Steve Morse tunes.  The reason is twofold.  First,
I love the way he writes.  There are many places in his music that I simply 
could not write myself out of...  You know, the where do you go from here 
syndrome.  He always comes up with great ideas that seem natural, but I'll bet
many times he just has to hammer them out phrase by phrase.  I'm hoping to get
some notion of how he does that.  The second reason is chopbuilding.

The results have been ... well, unexpected.  Unfortunately, I have not 
"discovered" how Steve writes so damn well, but I'm going to keep looking for
my own edification.  However, I have discovered something that seems funny when
I read it back to myself: his music is *real* hard to play well.  Don't laugh. 

For me, the hardest stuff sounds like it would be the easiest.  Some of his real
fast runs, etc. are fairly easy once you work up the speed aspect.  But, just 
try to play one of those reasonably slow melodies he's got all over the place
and you're going to find all manner of nasty stuff:

	1. Bends into and out of notes where you don't expect them
           and where they'll inflict the most pain when you try to 
	   execute them.  All notes are suspect; they're approached from
	   somewhere they're not hit "dead-on".  Also, certain strategic 
	   notes that are hit dead on are then bent into a leading tone
	   for the next phrase.

	   Bends of a couple of whole steps (and more) that become real
	   difficult on a guitar with wang bar; you end up using your
	   wang bar to augment the bend.

           Bends where one note starts before another finishes making it
	   almost impossible to execute on a guitar with wang-bar.
           
	2. Subtle (and not so subtle) volume and tone changes where
	   you don't really have the time to do it.

	3. Pickup changes in the middle of what should be a fairly simple
	   run of one type or another; making it instantly difficult. A typical
	   change that I've noticed is from rhythm pickup to lead pickup when
	   going down in pitch; just the opposite when going up in pitch.

Anyway, no real point to all this... just thought I'd share my frustrations.


steve

    Amazing!!!
    
    Steve, somewhere in this conference I posted a note with exactly the
    same observation.
    
    What often sounds like his hardest stuff frequently only requires
    conventional (if excelled) technique.  Speed for example.  If you
    can play fast, you can probably play a lot of fast Morse licks.
    
    His most difficult stuff SOUNDS easy!  He MAKES it sound so easy.
    
    Often it's just an obtuse fingering or picking pattern, or a lick
    that requires you to get it PERFECT or it sounds totally wrong.
    
    I think I had mentioned that I've got most of the main part of "Tumeni 
    Notes" up to about 3/4 speed, but I can't even get the first goddamned
    bar of "Country Colors" because it uses an odd technique that I just
    don't seem to be able to master.
    
    "Tumeni Notes" is a alternate picking exercise at breakneck speed.
    
    "Country Colors" is a very slow balladic new-agey type thing.
    
    I think one thing about Morse's writing is that whereas other guys
    spend most of their time developing technique that is obvious
    and flashy ("watch my chops"), Steve developes techniques that allow
    him to play things that expand his vocabulary, but don't even hint
    at the monstrous technique behind them.
    
    He'll spend hours developing a technique to play a particular harmonic
    in a particular place that happens not to be within easy reach.
    
    I also think that is why he sounds so different.  What he plays and
    writes isn't nearly as dictated by the constraints of the instrument
    as other guys.  I.E. his writing isn't as influenced by what's is
    easiest to play on the instrument.
    
    For example, he uses a lot of wide intervals in his playing that
    usually translate into difficult picking patterns.  His runs also
    use a lot of repeated notes to "shift time".
    
    Those kind of runs SOUND easy but it's much easier to play runs where
    each new note requires a new finger.
    
    You might find his Hot Licks video very interesting.  I think it
    reveals a lot of the techniques he uses that are a unique part of
    his style.

You're so right when you say his music isn't dictated by his instrument!
Steve is #1 a musician and #2 a guitarist.  It's obvious that the lines he 
plays are dictated by what he wants to hear; not what he can play at the
moment.  If it's possible, I think he's a better musician than guitarist, 
and he's as good of a guitarist as he is because he's such a tremendous 
musician.

Unfortunately, I'm a better guitarist than musician.  But at least I know
what to work on!

steve

    OK, the new album is called "Southern Steel" by "The Steve Morse Band".
    
    Note that this is the 2nd "Steve Morse Band" album ("The Introduction"
    being the first) in that "High Tension Wires" was billed as his first
    "solo" album.  These distinctions escape me because the no one (besides
    Steve) who played on the first SMB album is on the new album, although
    most of the tunes on HTW are performed by members of the original
    SMB.  Go figure...  I think Steve would tell you it has something
    to do with his approach to the writing...
    
    Anyway, I've listened to it once now.  Summary conclusion: Excellent
    as usual, probably his "heaviest" album.  Lots of heavy (distorted)
    guitar playing.  VERY VERY different from HTW which was dominated
    by guitar synth.
    
    This one is the best bet for heavy metal fans.
    
    The band is (as expected): Dave LaRue on bass and Van Romaine on drums.
    Jeff Watson (of Night Ranger) appears on one tune, but there are NO
    other guest performers on this album.  Morse had guest appearences
    on the last 4 albums he's done, and I must say I'm sorta dissappointed
    that he didn't do more of that this time.
    
    A lot of big names were "dropped" when he first started talking about
    guests for this album.  Guess it just didn't work out.
    
    The cover contains a highly detailed drawing of a sorta giant
    sheet-metal version of Morse's Ernie ball guitars - very detailed,
    nice art work.
    
    There are some pictures of Steve and the band inside.  It is a 6
    page (or so) insert, but there actually isn't a whole lot of
    interesting things in it.  Basically credits - that's all.
    
    OK, the songs:
    
    	Cut to the Chase - a high energy rave-up with Jeff Watson. 
    		Definitely **** (4 stars).  Hard to remain seated
    		while listening to this.  It just burns.
    
    	Simple Simon - Hard to describe but hardly indescript.
    		A funky metal romp with some clear country and celtic
    		influences (but NOT a Celtic or Country Morse tune
    		like "Highland Wedding" nor "Gina Lollabreakdown").
    
    	Vista Grande - Already one of my favorites.  An airy dream-like
    		Morse excursion.  Not unlike "Country Colors", "Night
    		Meets Light" and "English Rancher".   I'd say one of 
      		his absolute finest in this genre or any other.  This
    		tune REALLY got to me on the very listen!
    
    		The layering of parts and instruments is heavenly -
    		both incredible musicality and production.
    
    		Very appropriate title
    
    	Sleaze Factor - what Andy West called a "bump" tune.  Extremely
    		funky.  Similar to "Bloodsucking Sucking".  In fact some
    		tiny rhythmic sections is almost seems to cop licks from
    		"Leeches" (around 00:38, and 00:53).  I love this one too
    
    	Battle Lines - Heavy again.  Basically a lyrical lead line over
    		a pumping bass lines with a few hooks here and there.
    
    	Southern Steele - A neutronium-power country jam with heavy metal
    		lines.  THis one appeared on the "Guitar for the Practicing
    		Musician" compilation.  The intro-line is absolutely
    		killer - notes all over the place - how does he do it?  
    
    	Wolf Song - a very lyrical tune building on a repeating them.
    		The first slow tune since "Vista Grande"
    
    	Weekend Overdrive - Intensity back on.  Sorta like "Up the Pipe".
    
    	Arena Rock - another appropriate title.  Starts with a basic
    		Pop rock riff that might have been on a dozen Journey
    		albums and then basically expands on it.
    
    	Point Counterpoint - Where's the mandatory classical guitar entry?
    		Right here.  Again appropriately titled.  This actually
    		a duet for two guitars.  Sounds like he also had LaRue
    		double the bass line played by one of the guitars.
    
    		
    Well, my summary impression is that SO MANY of the tunes on this album
    "work" for me even on the first listen.  That is VERY rare for me.  I
    normally am dissapointed on the first listen.
    
    I think this album will particularly please a lot of Dregs fans that
    were somewhat dissapointed with the three previous "post-Dregs" albums.
    
    Standout cuts: "Cut to the Chase" and "Vista Grande".
    
    I'm interested to here other peoples impressions (even "it sucks" if
    that's how you feel).
    
    	Dave Blickstein
    	Dregs Central
    	

>You're so right when you say his music isn't dictated by his instrument!
>Steve is #1 a musician and #2 a guitarist.  It's obvious that the lines he 
>plays are dictated by what he wants to hear; not what he can play at the
>moment.  
    
    I'm glad to know that my feeble attempts to communicate that were
    understood.  You said it much better than I did.
    
    Basically I get the impression that the next note in the song isn't
    determined by what the most obvious thing to do with his fingers is.
    
    I think most people write with their fingers too more than anything
    else.
    
    > If it's possible, I think he's a better musician than guitarist, 
    > and he's as good of a guitarist as he is because he's such a tremendous 
    > musician.
    
    It's like you said - he's really one of the VERY few who does it
    ALL well.  (Frankly, I think he's in a league by himself.)

>Unfortunately, I'm a better guitarist than musician.  But at least I know
>what to work on!
    
    I know exactly what you mean. 

    I have not heard this new album yet, but I saw Steve twice in concert
    on his last tour.  If this album sounds anything like he did on this
    tour it should be a great album.  The sound at the concert was much
    heavier than the HTW album and Dave LaRue totally blew me away.
    
    Byron

    If Southern Steel is the second SMB album, The Introduction, the first
    and High Tension Wire is his first solo, where does that leave Stand
    Up?  Inquiring winds mant to snow.

    re: .16
    
    This album is DEFINITELY a lot heavier than High Tension Wires.
    
    As I mention in the reivew High Tension Wires seem to have an
    intentional emphasis on using the guitar synthesizer and various
    layering methods to build a very big but very clean sound.
    
    This album focuses much more on your basic overdriven sound.
    
    re: .17
    
    Oops... right.  This is the third SMB album.
    
    -------
    
    I still can't get over "Vista Grande".  Listening to that tune is
    like getting stoned.   Everything just seems so "right" in that tune.
    
    And "Cut to the Chase" is just so damn hot.
    
    I wonder if anyone of these tunes will ride the recent Satch/EJ wave
    and get some airplay.  "Chase" seems like a good candidate.

    I don't know about anyone else, but I find Morse's GFTPM column
    extremely practical.  I just may pick up his latest to see what he
    sounds like.

    The following si an exerpt of a pre-concert interview which took place
    on April 23, 1991 in Ottawa, Canada:
    
    CHEZ 106 FM: If I was to go and flip through your record collection--if
                    we started with the most recent purchases or finds at the
                    front towards old classics at the back--I might find in
                    there...?
    
        Steve Morse: Um...the most recent purchase...well, contrary to that
                    guitaristic sound of the tune we just did [Simple Simon],
                    it would be "Enya"--almost directly opposite of what I
                    play is what  I listen to (and it's weird, I know)--and
                    then very in back in the early days we go to Led Zepplin
                    and things like that which is more, you know. I guess more
                    akin to the guitarist sound. But I like to listen to things
                    other than guitarists, you know, for emotional inspiration.
                                                                   
     End of note
    

	Concert Review:  Steve Morse/Dixie Dregs

	They completely blew my sh!t away.

Don't hold back Pat, tell how you *really* feel !!

:^)

    I recently got a hold of "Power Lines".  He can truly wail, but doesn't
    seem as smooth as some other players.  I never realized before that
    he's a leftie that learned to play rightie.  This might explain his
    awkward stance (elbow cocked way out in right field) and his appearance
    that he's trying hard to burn those frets.
    
    Mike

Power Lines IMHO is a poor album, check out the one prior to that "High Tension
wires" much much much much better...again IMHO

dbii 

	This reunion show I caught was in a little theatre in Greenville,
	with surprisingly good acoustics.  The entire band seemed to be loose
	and having a ball.  The violinist (Dr Alan Sloan?) was hot and right
	there with everything Morse threw at him.   I thought I heard that
	the drummer played with Winger.  True?  He ain't shy either.  LaRue
	was tight but not greedy on bass.  The keys man came in a little 
	shaky on a tune or two but settled right in after a few bars.  

	Get this.  For the first encore song, they do KASHMIR!  Then came
	a medley of Mississippi Queen, Summertime Blues, and some others I 
	can't remember.  I had seen Morse once before in a solo gig, but 
	this was in another league.  I'm serious - they blew my sh!t away. 
	My favorite was Remote Control (is that right, Dave?) off Free Fall.

	killer, don't miss 'em

    Remote Control is a classic!

    I caught the Dregs in '83 when some friends of mine promoted a show of
    theirs at  a club in Western Mass near Amherst. I had previously met
    Rod Morganstern (sp?) when he was interested in a digital drum kit that
    some people and I were designing. I've also had the pleasure of listing
    to Steve Morse sit and goof off in a booth at the Anaheim CA NAMM show.
    Fabulous player. Truely inspiring. Glad to hear about a reunion.

    This is the reaction of nearly every musician who sees the Dregs
    for the first time.  They are simply, IMHO, "the" musician's band.
    
>         The violinist (Dr Alan Sloan?) 
    
    Yes, although it's "Allen".  Believe it or not, he's a practicing
    anesthesiologist - hard to imagine anyone who can play like him
    putting anyone to sleep eh?
    
>    I thought I heard that the drummer played with Winger.  True?  
    
    Not just "true", I'd say "Sad, but true".
    
    I have nothing against pop metal bands, but IMHO, Rod is being wasted
    in that band.   With the Dregs he has a very innovative original style.
    With Winger, he sounds like every other pop metal drummer.
    
>   The keys man came in a little shaky on a tune ....
    
    His name is T Lavitz. 

>	Get this.  For the first encore song, they do KASHMIR!  Then came
>	a medley of Mississippi Queen, Summertime Blues, and some others I 
>	can't remember.  
    
    This is a Dregs tradition - doing tunes you wouldn't expect them to
    do.  I've seen them do a TON of Led Zeppelins songs, although I gotta
    admit "Kashmir" is about the last I'd expect to see them do.
    
    I've even seen them do disco ("Miss You" by the Stones).
    
>	My favorite was Remote Control (is that right, Dave?) off Free Fall.
    
    It's "Cruise Control" which shows up on TWO albums, "Freefall" and
    "Unsung Heroes".   I should mention that these are different recordings
    of the songs. 
    
    The Dregs may have set a record for number of re-recorded and released
    songs with 3, "Cruise Control", "Leprechaun Promenade" and "Take it off
    the Top".

    I see them tommorrow night at Nighstage in Cambridge.

    
    Has anyone seen Dave Blickstein? If anyone sees him at the Morse show
    tell him we're still waiting for him at "Stormy Monday's"! He had a 
    gig with us on the 24th!    ;^)
    
    
    	Rock on,
    		Fred (who'll be playing 2 parts if db doesn't show up!)  ;)
                                   

    Why would I want to see Steve Morse when I can play with Fred Abatelli?

    RE: .39
    You know Dave, I think you're working too hard. You're comment in
    506.39 just proves to me that you need time off. I heard they even
    have a medication to cure this!
    
    We'll talk...   but then who knew?    ;^)
    
    
    Fred (a member of the "db" fan club)

Well despite rumors of a delay, the new Steve Morse album, "Coast to Coast"
is out and I've already got my copy.

The cover is a picture of an airplane propeller with a global in the
senter.  The general color is grey.

The songs are:

	1.  User Friendly
	2.  Collateral Damage
	3.  Get it in Writing
	4.  Morning Rush Hour
	5.  Runaway Train 
	6.  Long Lost
	7.  The Z  (with the Z in a read circle)
	8.  Over Easy
	9.  Cabin Fever
	10. Flat Baroque

The CD sleeve is a foldout.  There's a picture of Morse's distinctive
Blue Ernie Ball MusicMan guitar, a picture of the band at an airport
and a big aeronautical map of the US.

There are NO guest artists on this record.  Just the Steve Morse band which
is (still) Dave LaRue and Van Romaine.  

Dave LaRue got a producing co-credit (w. Morse).

Stand-out cuts so far are "Runaway Train" (an outrageous country pickin'
tune ala "Pride of the Farm"), "Morning Rush Hour".  The solo on "The Z"
is also pretty outrageous.

As I sit here and listen to it, I'm amazed how each new tune I hear seems
to be very much "in the mold of" some other Morse tune.  I'm sure that 
in the full review (that I intend to write after I've listened to it a few
times) I'm likely to compare each song to a some other Morse tune.  Sometimes
it's even suggested by a lick.

As usual, my initial impressions are sorta luke-warm at best.  However, as
a veteran of many Morse releases, one thing I've learned is that I NEVER EVER
like a Morse album on the first listen.  

That was especially true for "Southern Steel" which I listen to several times
a WEEK now!!! (Most Morse albums get listened to once a month at most).

BTW, ELP's new album was released today.  Almost too much for this old boy:
a new album by his #1 guitar hero and his #1 keyboard hero.

	Stay tuned,

	Dave Blickstein
	Dregs Central

    I got "Coast to Coast" for my B-Day.  I listened to it on the way home
    from SC last night.......4 times!  I have never had an album hit me
    like this one....I can't get enough.  This was my 1st Morse
    album....since I like this one, which would you recommend I go back and
    get?
    
    Steve

    
    Just FYI: The July Guitar Player has a "lesson" with Steve Morse,
    for anyone so inclined.
    
    It's subtitled "Chordal Magic and the Craft of Composition"
    
    Haven't looked at it in detail, but it's got stuff about chord
    voicings and chord progressions, and a bit about soloing.

    I think if you liked this one you might really enjoy "High Tension
    Wires".  I think that album is by far "most like" this one.
    
    However, you might also enjoy any other Steve Morse album.
    
    I'd highly recommend trying a Dregs album, and my standard "1st Dregs
    album" pick is "Dregs of the Earth".
    
    I'd also recommend "Southern Steel".
    
    BTW, I actually greatly prefer those albums to "Coast to Coast" so 
    if your tastes are similar to mine, you may be in for a real treat.
    
    	db

    
    Steve, I have Southern Steel and High Tension Wires.  Next time you're
    in town, we'll give 'em a spin and tape 'em if you like.
    
    -pat

    re: -1
    
    I'll take that offer......8^)
    
    tx!
    
    Steev

    From "The Concert Guide" a publication which advertises events at the
    famous "Coach House" in San Juan Capistrano.
    
    Steve Morse
    
    This legendary guitar virtuoso climbed his way to the top of guitar
    heroedom during his stints with the popular bands "The Dixie Dregs" and
    "Kansas." It was with these bands that he established a huge following
    of fans which have remained loyal to him as he pursued an exciting solo
    career. This show is a must see for all guitar players and guitar
    lovers alike.
                    SATURDAY * AUGUST 30th * COACH HOUSE
    

    
    Thanks for posting that...the Coach House can be a real good venue
    (depends on who's mixing).  You can literally sit 3 feet in front of
    the performers.  I've seen Rita Coolidge and Warren Zevon there.
    
    Guess I better call in for some tickets...are you going?
    
    \John
    

    I heard the tail end of an instrumental version of Zep's "Kashmir"
    today .... had to be Morse, and it cranked !
    
    Jerry (who's got quite a collection of Morse stuff now ... he still
    needs to practice some, sloppy in places ... 8^)

    re .48
    
    Yes I'm definately going. I think the EAC can get Coach House tickets
    at a discount. Check with H.R. for more information.
    
    This will be the first time to the Coach House for me. I've heard the
    acoustics are excellent.
    
    Bob

    
    >                                                    ...I've heard the
    >    acoustics are excellent.
    
    Like most places, depends on where you sit.  If the house is packed
    (lots of absorption to cut down the reverb) it can be good.  Being
    forced to use the house PA as near-field monitors can be painful,
    though.  Probably wouldn't be a bad idea to carry some earplugs with
    you, just in case.
    
    You get better seats if you buy dinner, but even the back of the house
    puts you closer to the performer than front row seats at a
    stadium-sized venue.
    
    Anybody know what Morse's stage volumes are like?
    

    That "Kashmir" is on the new "Bring THem Back Alive" Live CD.
    
    There's also a great medley where they just cruise between these
    songs:
    
    	o Gimme Some Lovin'
    	o Freebird
    	o Missippi Queen
    	o My Sharona  -  Yep, imagine the Dregs playing "My Sharona"!
    
    There might be another tune in that medley, don't remember offhand.
    
    The CD is a good representation of classic live Dregs.
    
    The Dregs are so incredible live that at times it almost sounds like
    a studio CD being played thru a PA!
    
    So either they are incredible at capturing that studio quality live, or
    capturing that live quality in the studio, or perhaps both.
    
    And BTW, that is NOT to imply that they do the live versions EXACTLY
    like the studio version (which they don't).  It just sounds "studio
    clean" (in places).

    
    	Great review of the live CD in yesterday's Globe.
    
    	Said the Dregs "Fly and these 2 nights they were unconcious".
    
    	Saw them at the Rusty Nail in Sunderland near Zoo Mass years
    	ago.  I never saw a concert where EVERYONE had sh*t eating
    	grins on thru laughter just because of how incredible they
    	were.  Far beyond shaking your head in disbelief...
    
    	Gotta get it!!
    	Tom
    

    Heard a rumor.... Steve Morse Band at Rack -n -roll in August (21 I
    think).  Can't wait.  Hope rumor is true...

    steve

    .-2
    
    That's the reaction I get (total and complete amazement) whenever I
    take someone new to a Dregs concert.  There are similar reactions
    in MUSIC from the first reunion tour (see Kristy Gleason's).
    
    I don't take non-musicians, they often just aren't able to appreciate
    the way these guys navigate through tunes of mind-boggling complexity
    and musicality so effortlessly.
    
    But it's hard to imagine any musician going to a Dregs concert and not
    being blown away on one level or another.
    
    The Dregs live is like no other band I've ever seen.

    I played the Coast to Coast album for my bassist brother in law
    yesterday....before the tape he said, "who's Dave La Rue?"  I said:
    "just listen", and smiled while I watched his face....he said: "I wanna
    copy this.....damn!"
    
    Steve

    
    In the new Coach House Music guide, they list T Lavitz as the opening
    act for Steve Morse on August 30th. The name rings a bell. Did he play
    with the Dregs at one time?
    
    Bob

    Yes, he's been the keyboard player since "Dregs of the Earth" (like
    '82 or so).

    I am psyched!!  I get to see Steve Morse at a local club this Friday.
    I'll never be the same....

    For those in the Colorado Springs area, the Steve Morse Band is playing
    at Rack-n-Roll Friday evening.  Tickets are $14 and $16 at Prosound and
    at Independent Records.  See you there!

    steve

    Steve - dood,
    
    I'll be seein' you there.
    
    Also, Steve will be doin' a free clinic at Rice, and KRDO is trying 
    to secure rights with Steves management to tape the thing !!
    
    I'll be going to Rice tomorrow at lunch time to score tix.  If you want
    one, send me mail, and I'll be sure to score enough for all of us.
    I think it's on Thursday night, btw.
    
    jc
      

    What a show!!! Incredible, absolutly awesome. T. Lavitz opened up with
    5 or 6 songs, backed up by pre-recorded soundtrack. A funny guy, as he
    mixed humor in with his music.
    
    The Steve Morse Band was excellent. A mix of his new tunes, some from
    Southern Steel, old Dregs, Ah it was excellent. My favorites of the
    night were, The Introduction, Tumeni Notes, and a medley of tunes, with
    Summertime Blues, and others. It was Dave Larue's Birthday, and Steve
    played acoustic "Happy Birthday", while the audience sang. Then onto
    Highland Wedding. The encore brought T. Lavitz back to do more Dregs
    material.
    
    Steve Morse talked about going into the studio for a Dregs reunion
    rehearsal, for a tour sometime in November. West coast, this time 8^)
    
    Ears still ringing... Bob

    Yeah, I saw Morse a couple of weeks ago, and I forgot to say anything
    about it.  It was a simply incredibly show.  The musicianship just blew
    me away!  
    
    Greg

    Well, Greg, as we know, he's no Joe Satriani.  ;-)

    Yeah if he was, he'd be playing stadiums instead of clubs.

    Troublemaker!

>    Troublemaker!
    
    Thanks!
    
>      -< But he could play Satriani's stuff even if Joe coldn't play... >-
    
    It would lack Satch's edge and emotion though.  I have one of Steve's
    videos so I know what he's capable of.  He's an excellent teacher.  
    
    I've also listened to "Southern Steel" and it put me to sleep.
    
    Mike

    I've also heard his albums and while they were nice, they didn't have a
    lot of "fire" to 'em.  His live show was completely different, it
    SMOKED!  I don't even think what he does in his instructional vids even
    comes close to demonstrating how he plays live.  It was the live show
    that convinced me, and I firmly believe that is the *only* way to hear
    him at his best.  His albums just don't capture it.
        
    Greg

    >comes close to demonstrating how he plays live.  It was the live show
>    that convinced me, and I firmly believe that is the *only* way to hear
>    him at his best.  His albums just don't capture it.
    
    Unfortunately, there are many guitarists like that and I probably will
    never see 99% of them.  My money will go towards the sure thing: artists 
    that I know I already like.

    Well, given that Steve Morse plays smaller places, the chance to get to
    see him up close is good, and the cost is relatively low.  The show I
    went to a couple of weeks ago cost $12.  Not bad considering almost all
    the stadium shows around here cost about twice that much.
    
    He's well worth seeing, I guarantee it.  Don't miss it if he comes by
    your area!
    
    Greg

    I saw the same show Greg did.  However, I was right in front of Morse
    all evening (I was standing right in front of the stage).   I haven't
    written a review because it would just sound like babble unless you had
    been there -- probably sound worse than db! ... Many :)'s, Dave.

    Suffice to say that I've seen many very talented guitarists.  I've
    never seen/heard anyone play with the dimension that Morse did at that
    concert.  I *watched* him play things that are clearly impossible.  I
    wouldn't believe it except that I was there.  And what a great
    attitude!  No ego whatsoever.....

    Mike, if you ever get a chance to see him live, don't miss it.  Greg is
    right, although I like many of Morse's albums, he is much better live.

    steve

>    However, I was right in front of Morse all evening (I was standing
>    right in front of the stage).
    
    I was about 3-4 feet behind and to the left of you for the whole time
    Morse played.
    
    Greg

    as usual, I wasn't there at all, but I WANNABE!!
    
    Anybody know where I can get his tour info?  Is he coming to the Wash
    DC/Baltimore area?
    
    Steve

    I was about 1,584 kilometers to the southwest of both of you.

    Steve's review is typical of anyone who goes to see Morse for the first
    time. 
    
    Boston area people - The Dregs are coming to the Paradise theatre on
    October 8th.   
    
    As incredible as the Morse Trio shows are, the Dregs are just one order
    of magnitude more incredible, particularly in the writing department
    because he can write for three melodic instruments instead of one.
    
    (The Dregs also have keyboards and violin).

    I've actually seen him once before, but it didn't count because it was
    in this very large arena (he warmed up for Rush, I think).  The place
    was just too big and the sound was horrible - at least from where I was
    sitting, which was just south of nosebleed central.

    If the Dregs shows are more intense than the SMB, I don't think I
    should see them.  I'd probably require therapy afterwords :).

    In any case, how I approach guitar has been fundamentally changed
    forever.  One thing I've always believed but never UNDERSTOOD is that
    there are NO rules, implict or explicit.  Just working this
    understanding into my playing is going to take years...

    steve

    Anyone else go to the Boston show last night?
    
    A couple of brief comments:
    
    	1) Morse can now cross pick stuff faster than I've heard almost
    	   anyone else sweep pick?  Whoa!!!!!!!!
    
           Everytime you see this guy he adds something totally amazing
    	   to his ability!
    
    	2) Jerry Goodman is a great violinist but he doesn't seem to fit
    	   in with the Dregs.  I thought both Sloan and O'Connor were
    	   much better stylistic fits.
    
    	3) How much better can Dave LaRue get?  And his most awesome solo
    	   was not playing with the Dregs, it was sitting in with the
    	   John Finn band (John Finn had some good stuff to play too).
    
    	4) Vitaman Q has been added to the set list (at least I don't think
    	   it was there before).  I think "Little Kids" was dropped.
    
    	5) Morgenstein does pretty much the same drum solo on this tour
    	   that he did last time.
    
    	   On the other hand, it's probably the most musically 
    	   interesting drum solo I've seen and worthy of seeing again.
    	   I normally wait for the drum solo to take a "pee break".
    
         6) At the risk of violating corporate policy:  The Paradise
    	    Theatre SUCKS big-time.  
    
    		o Bad acoustics
    		o Expensive drinks
    		o Shows always start later than what you ask is the "real"
    	  	 	show time (this is to sell drinks)
    		o You stand in line outside for an hour, than you stand
    		  inside for 1.5 hours waiting for the show, then you
    		  stand for the whole show!  
    		o Way too smokey in there
    		o The play the piped in music so loud you can't even talk
    		  with your friends when noone is playing
    		o Considering all these things (and that it's a club) the
    		  ticket prices should be less than, say, the price of	
    		  a ticket to, say, Berklee.
    

    I didn't see your show, but I did see Morse about a month ago and he is
    definately amazing.  
    
    Dave LaRue is also something to behold.  I don't think I've ever seen a
    bass player do the amazing things he does before.
    
    Greg

    I need to know his concert schedule!!!!  Anybody know when/where he is
    playing?  Wash DC area?
    
    Steve
    

    Don't have a schedule available, but saw this in Sunday's Show section
    of the Orange County Register.
    
                  Dixie Dregs featuring Steve Morse & T. Lavitz
    
             November 20th, Rhythm Cafe, 3503 Harbor Blvd. Santa Ana CA.
    
                Dinner reservations guarantee preferred seating.
    
           Tickets are available at TickeTMaster or call 714-556-CAFE 
    
    For years I've been waiting for this! Finally, The Dixie Dregs. And
    right up the street from CWO!  
    
    Bob

    
    Bob, what do you know about this venue?
    

    Here's a description of an intriguing new software based guitar
    teaching tool being developed with the help of Steve Morse.
    
    	db
    
From:	DECWRL::"ouij%[email protected]" "Luigi Perrotta"  7-JAN-1993 15:47:31.11
To:	"Davo, the Dave-ster, Dave-o-rama...  06-Jan-1993 1619" <dregs::blickstein>
CC:	
Subj:	Re: Dregs Distribution List

On Jan 6,  1:30pm, "Davo, the Dave-ster, Dave-o-rama...  06-Jan-1993  wrote:
}
> 
> In other news, Guitar Player magazine (Feb. 93) reports that "Steve Morse
> is collaborating with Lyrrus  Inc to develope interactive, computer-based
> music libraries that feature his playing and compositions".
> 
    
    Regarding the interactive software which will be demod at the upcoming
    namm show in 2 weeks is supposedly amazing .  There is a gizmo which
    one attachs to the guitar which keeps tracks of the notes you play.  SO
    there is interactive software that shows you how to play about 20 or so
    "steve riffs".  
    
    However, what excited the manager the most is the game software which
    tests to see how much you have learnt from the lessons. The screen
    contains an image which represents you playing guitar on the streets. 
    People start to hurl tomato's at you.  Inscribed on each tomato is the
    name of the riff you are supposed to play.  If you play it, the tomato
    doesn't hit you.  You advance level's by being able to play the riff's
    on the tomato's. upon each level, the scenery progress as well, you go
    from street corner to stage, to club and finally to carnegie hall.

    It sounds like a real spiffy attention grabbing education device.
    Apparently it is not cheap due to the gizmo which must be attached to
    the guitar. I am guessing that it is some midi rig. I wonder if the
    company will be smart enough to let existing midi gear plug straight in
    without purchasing more dedicated harware. 
 
	ouij

    The Dregs sounded pretty good on The Tonight Show last night. I would
    have enjoyed it better if they had done a tune that was pure Morse
    rather than the medley of classic hooks that they played. Even so it was
    a good tune. Best part of it was the "classic" Dregs break.

    I haven't been keeping up with the Dregs lately so can anyone tell me if
    that was T. Lavitz and Rod Morganstern playing?

    Yeah I have to agree.  They sounded hot, but I'd rather have seen them
    do a song rather then that medly of classic stuff (which Morse usually
    uses as an encore).
    
    As far as who was playing, that was definitely Rod Morgenstern(sp?) on
    drums and Dave LaRue on bass.  Not sure of the other players.
    
    Greg

    This reaction ("rather they do a dregs tune instead of a medley of
    covers") is the overwhelming reaction of folks on the usenet Dregs
    distribution list.
    
    The current Dregs lineup is:
    
    	Steve Morse - guitars
    	Rod Morgernstern - drums
    	T Lavitz - keyboards
    	Dave LaRue - bass
    	Jerry Goodman - violin
    
    FYI, Jerry Goodman was the violinist in the Mahavishnu Orchestra.
    
    	db

    I picked up "Bring 'em Back Alive" yesterday.....GREAT CD!  It made for
    an enjoyable ride to work this morning; not bad for a Monday!
    
    Buck,
    
    Steve Morse does NOT suck!
    
    Dawg's Morse collection is growing....

    How does this one compare to Hi tension wires or Southern Steel?
    
    dbii

    >Buck,
    >
    >Steve Morse does NOT suck!
    
    I never said he did...
    
    
    
    but Eric Clapton sure does!!
    ;')

    re: -1
    
    Eric Clapton says that Steve Morse sux?
    
    8^)

    re:  How does this one compare to Hi tension wires or Southern Steel?
    
    More of the Rockin' stuff and less of the Celtic ballads, but it is
    VERY typical Morse/Dregs....
    
    I like it.......
    
    Steve Mors....er,uh D'Andrea

    >     How does this one compare to Hi tension wires or Southern Steel?
    
    Dave,
    
    You'll not find another album like "High Tension Wires".  You know how
    every artist who manages to have a long career comes out with one album
    that's really very different from the rest?  Well, HTW is definitely
    that album for Morse.
    
    You might enjoy the Dixie Dregs' "What If" album.  That, to my mind,
    comes closest to the sorta "New Agey" "space ballad" type stuff that
    Morse did on HTW.
    
    I'm not sure you'd like "Bring 'em Back Alive" if you don't like other
    of Morse's stuff.  For one thing, you may not realize that it's just
    concert album of regular Dregs material, not a new studio album.
    
    ------------------------------------
    
    Re: Steve Morse sucks,
    
    No, you guys got it all wrong.  I don't think anyone said that Steve
    Morse sucked (and Buck would say so even if he thought so - at least
    not while his 5150 rested totally defenseless at my place ;-) ).
    
    No, it's that Morse is "emotionless", and it was Mike Heiser that
    believes that.  Maybe you confused Buck with Mike.
    
    	db

    re: Steve Morse sucks.....
    
    I was just tryin' to get a friendly snide response from "Mr. Everybody sux"
    
    I don't recall Buck ever sayin' it either.....remember, 50% of my
    replies are tongue in cheek.
    
    In all seriousness, if anybody thinks that SM is "emotionless", that's
    ok with me......I disagree and find it full of emotion; I've called it
    'mood inspiring'...to each his own!
    
    steve

    >  In all seriousness, if anybody thinks that SM is "emotionless",
    > that's  ok with me... I disagree and find it full of emotion; I've
    > called it 'mood inspiring'...to each his own!
    
    That's a good way to put it.
    
    Actually the reason why Mike's comment about Steve Morse doesn't send
    me into tirades (like other attacks that have been made) is because I
    think the claim that Morse plays without emotion is sorta like saying
    that Larry Carlton plays without taste, or Yngwie plays without speed.
    
    It's seems so totally inapropos that its preposterously funny.
    
    But Mike calls 'em as he sees 'em.  I "value" that my opinion is
    "different" from his.  ;-)
    
    	db

    Re: Steve Morse sucks
    
    His personal life is of no interest to me.
    
    Personally, I loved the live show when I saw Steve Morse, absolutely
    amazing.  I thoroughly enjoyed myself and would recommend it to anyone. 
    However...I have one of his albums and have heard two or three others
    and quite honestly, they really don't do that much for me.  There's
    like one or two songs per album that catch my ear and the rest seem
    kinda boring.
    
    But subtlty isn't what I tend to listen for in music and a lot of what
    Morse is about in his songwriting is subtle...
                                             
    Greg

    actually the attacks have been running-tongue-in-cheek jabs between db
    and myself for quite some time.

Steve Morse has signed on with a new label, Windham Hill. (Actually, it's a
label that's distributed by Windham Hill, but I forget the name....)

alan

re: .95

>Steve Morse has signed on with a new label, Windham Hill. (Actually, it's a
>label that's distributed by Windham Hill, but I forget the name....)

Wow, I guess that means that Steve Morse is "New Age". :-)

-Hal

    > Wow, I guess that means that Steve Morse is "New Age". :-)
    
    In Morse's case, it's more like "Newly Aged".
    
    ;-)

    The next thing you know, he'll be wearing beads in his hair, burning
    incense, and making the annual trek to Sedona, AZ for the Moronic
    Convergence.

    On the Morse instructional video I have, he starts off with a song that
    I really like.  I think it's called "Tumeni Notes."  What album is this
    on and how does it compare to the rest of the songs?
    
    Mike

    Guess what? 
    
    "Tumeni Notes" is on the album that I just recommended two seconds ago
    in my last note:  "High Tension Wires".
    
    However... "Tumeni Notes" is almost "out of place" on that album,
    because it's not like anything else on that album - that album contains
    a lot more "air space" than usual, and "Tumeni Notes" is the
    anti-thesis of that.  But I honestly think you'll most of the other
    things on that album.
    
    I'm not sure what to recommend in the way of "If you like Tumeni Notes
    you'll also like...".    I mean there's lots of individual songs
    somewhat like that, but...
    
    Let's put it this way.   I think Morse kinda has a semi-formula for
    albums that goes somewhat like this:
    
    	1) One rocker ("Take It Off the Top" for example)
    	2) One space ballad ("What If", "Country Colors")
    	3) One Funk tune ("Twiggs Approved", "Bloodsucking Leaches")
    	4) One classical tunes ("Modoc", "Little Kids")
    	5) One hyper tune ("Tumeni Notes", "Rock n' ROll", "Cut to the
    		Chase")
    	6) One souped country/chicken pickin' tune ("Pride of the Farm",
    		"Runaway Train")
    	7) One tune that isn't like any thing else ("Hereafter", "Vitamin
    	   Q")
    
    For this reason, it's kinda hard to say if you like X then check out
    album Y because it has a lot of stuff like X.
    
    The albums that sorta depart from this, as I see it, are "High Tension
    Wires" and "Freefall" (the first album).
    
    Perhaps the right thing to do is tell me which categories you like,
    and I might make a tape for you.
    
    	db
    

    I like High tension Wires as all of my other SM stuff, but my first SM
    album and still my fav is his last album....I think it's "coast to
    coast".  After listening to 4 of his albums, this one seems to sample
    all of his styles that I have heard I feel that Dave LaRue shines the
    brightest on this album as well.  What a bass player....eesh!
    
    BTW, db, you didn't mention his "celtic" style....those Irish/Scottish
    sounding ballads.....
    
    dawg

    > BTW, db, you didn't mention his "celtic" style....those Irish/Scottish
    > sounding ballads.....
    
    Yep, and those are always among my favorites from each album.
    
    I'm sure there other styles that I forgot to mention.  The word most
    often associated with Morse (by people other than Mike Heiser) is
    "eclectic".   I certainly agree.
    
    As I've mentioned, in record stores, I've found Morse albums in rock
    bins, jazz bins, country bins, new age bins, and most recently even
    heavy metal bins (I suppose because that's where most "guitar heros"
    end up).
    
    He obviously doesn't make it easy for people to categorize him, which
    is probably part of why he's not more popular.
    
    	db

   What album is "Highland Wedding" on?  Always one of my faves.  Saw him do
   it in Colo. Spgs. a couple of years ago.  I was standing about 5 feet from
   Dave LaRue at the time.  Cool.

   -- Sam

    Highland Wedding (a tune firmlly in the Celtic category) was on
    "High Tension Wires".
    
    I have a video tape of them playing that on one of those TNN
    variety shows.
    
    	db

    Re: Celtic tunes
    
    Keaggy often gets the same label and there are a few tunes on "Beyond
    Nature" that fit that mode nicely.  I don't know about Morse, but at
    least Keaggy has an Irish background ;-)
    
    Re: eclectic
    
    That's what I like about Keaggy and Satch as well.  Always something 
    different, always variety.  

    Satch "eclectic"???   Well... if you say so.
    
    BTW, I just realized that the singer I'm currently listening to now
    started out on Christian labels and became immensely popular despite
    that:  Amy Grant.
    
    "Heart in Motion" may just be a "pop" album, but there are tunes that
    have some utterly infectious happening grooves in them (I'm thinking of
    "Good for Me" mainly - that is definitely a great groove tune).
    
    So, it's not like starting out on a christian label is the kiss of
    death. 

    
    
       Wasn't there a band called LaRue in the early or mid eighties? 
    
      -Rick.
    

    >BTW, I just realized that the singer I'm currently listening to now
    >started out on Christian labels and became immensely popular despite
    >that:  Amy Grant. So, it's not like starting out on a christian label is
    >the kiss of death.
    
    She's a bad example.  She was unknown in the mainstream market until
    she was signed to A&M and made a deliberate crossover attempt
    (something Keaggy hasn't tried yet).  Within the Christian music
    community, she is still a controversial figure for her mass popularity
    and considered a sellout by some.  
    
    All of the Christian acts that are in the "mainstream" (Stryper, Grant,
    Philip Bailey, Take 6, etc.) got there only by recording for secular
    labels.
    
    So the kiss of death isn't *starting* on a Christian label (Keaggy
    didn't, anyway...Glass Harp recorded for Decca) but never making it to
    a secular label.
    
    								JoJo

    I think one of Keaggy's complaints in the article was that once he did
    a Christian record, the mainstream labels didn't want to talk to him
    anymore.  It wasn't like he *only* wanted to do Christian music, but it
    was the only market left available to him .  Plus he also complained of
    getting flak from the Christian audience for certain secular themes in
    his music.  This was sometime back in the mid-70's.  I suspect crossing
    over is somewhat easier now (cause somebody noticed that there are $$$
    to be made) but still no piece of cake.
    
    /rick

    There was a segment on a news show covering the fact that the
    "christian music community" was very upset at her for doing a video in
    which she cavorts (in a manner that wouldn't even warrant so much as a
    PG-13 rating - maybe once or twice he puts his hand on her butt or
    picks her up) with a guy who isn't her husband.
    
    Why????
    
    The implication of this is that actors and actresses can't portray
    even mild PDAs unless the actors are married.
    
    Amy was pretty upset about this - she seemed to think it was entirely
    in good taste and consistent with christian moral values.
    
    	db

    >   Wasn't there a band called LaRue in the early or mid eighties? 
    
    Yeah -- they were from LA.  The lead guitarist attended Berklee in
    the mid-80s ... KILLER player...but the band, as I remember, was
    so-so.

    
       One hit wonder I seem to remember.  
    
       This has nothing to do with "LaRue" posted five or six back?
    Jus' curious. 
        

>    There was a segment on a news show covering the fact that the
>    "christian music community" was very upset at her for doing a video in
>    which she cavorts (in a manner that wouldn't even warrant so much as a
>    PG-13 rating - maybe once or twice he puts his hand on her butt or
>    picks her up) with a guy who isn't her husband.
    
    That was nothing to the time "Rolling Stone" raked her over the coals.
    Amy has always been a free spirit.  Her mistake is being brutally
    honest where she shouldn't be.  For example, she happened to mention to
    "Rolling Stone" about the time she and her husband went on vacation
    with another couple to some coastal resort in Africa.  In addition, she
    told them how much fun it was skinny-dipping there.  "Rolling Stone"
    jumped all over that and Amy claimed it was supposed to be off the
    record.
    
    I don't have a problem with what she does, because I'm just as liberal
    as she is in many ways.  However, I also get flack from the
    ultra-conservative.  I just remind them that it's boring Christians like 
    them that prevent the world from believing ;-)
    
    Mike

    Do you have to be a liberal to go skinny dipping?
    
    :-)

    The mere thought makes the Puritans blush.  I'd say more but will plead
    the 5th instead.

>   -< imagine William F Buckley in the raw! >-
    
    BRRRR!  Guess it's a good thing it's only for liberals!

    >>Do you have to be a liberal to go skinny dipping?  

    I just LOOOOOOVE skinny stompin!!

    Hey guys, take all this trash stuff to a more appropriate note.
    
    I'd suggest #920.
    
    ;-)
    
    	db

    re: -1 
    
    you're right db, but #2640 might be a better depository for such
    dribble.........
    
    >:*}
    

	The new GP says Steve just signed with some new age label -
	Windham Hill maybe??  He's working on his new cd now.

	(couldn't decide to title this reply "Mellow Morse" or
	"Mike Heiser ammo"...)

    He's providing enough ammo all by himself, kinda like the current
    administration.

    The new Dixie Dregs album, "Full Circle" is out - I picked up my copy
    this afternoon.  
    
    I've only had a chance to play the first 30 seconds or so of each song
    and it's hard to get much of an impression from that.  Some things
    hooked me right away, others didn't.   I'll post a review when I get
    a chance to listen to it more.
    
    Interestingly enough, the album advertises a "24 hour Dixie Dregs
    Computer Bulletin Board" at (404) 832-7000.   I'll try that as soon as
    I get a chance.
    
    What kind of bugs me is that I'm the moderator of the Internet Dregs
    mailing list and I've been trying to offer the use of that list and
    setting up some kind of bboard to Steve's manager for sometime now
    but he has never even done me the courtesy of returning a phone call.
    
    From various sources, including a talk with Steve himself, I get the
    impression that the manager is laboring under some sort of extreme
    confusion about what the list is about.  He seems to think it's a
    "online critic" type of thing and he is attempting to shield Steve
    from what he thinks would be a shredding by critics.  
    
    Obviously nothing could be further from the truth.  The list is mostly
    comprised of people who (like me) thinks this guy walks on water.
    
    	db

>    There was a segment on a news show covering the fact that the
>    "christian music community" was very upset at her for doing a video in
>    which she cavorts (in a manner that wouldn't even warrant so much as a
>    PG-13 rating - maybe once or twice he puts his hand on her butt or
>    picks her up) with a guy who isn't her husband.
    
    In Amy's new video, she has 2 children in it with her, but she had to let
    everyone know that they weren't hers.

Steve Morse posted a notice on the Dregs bboard confirming the rumors that
the Dregs have a new keyboard player and that he'll be joining Deep Purple
for the rest of their European tour.

Here's the notice from Steve, followed by the usual postings:

   TO ALL:
   FROM: Steve Morse
            
      I have been out of touch for quite a while. In case you haven't
   heard, the Dregs have a new keyboard player named Jordan Rudess. He is an
   incredible player and we just finished a leg of the tour with him.
   Deciding what to do, and getting him worked in, playing the gigs and just
   plain old taking care of urgent things has taken all the time I've had. I
   just tried to download all the personal messages and my computer freaked
   out and said the file was too large to open. I'm afraid that if the
   computer thinks there's too many that I won't be able to answer them
   either. In any case, I did manage to tell the bulletin board that I had
   all the messages, only to find that I can't get to them in my computer.

      I will be replacing Joe Satriani for the end of the Deep Purple tour
   sometime in October. The only dates that I know about are in other
   countries, none in the U.S. This is going to be a fun gig. If all goes
   well, it could lead to more involvement since these guys like to keep a
   laid back touring schedule which would allow me to do my thing as well.

      Once again, thanks for calling in and please don't get discouraged with
   the lack of personal response. I'm a slow typist and I would need about 6
   months of "discretionary time~ to begin to answer the messages so far,even
   if I could figure out how to access them. Our incredibly able sys-op,
   Tony, might be able to help on that one, now that I think of it. Thanks
   all for your support. Oh yeah, I left a cryptic message somewhere in the
   labyrinth....number somewhere around 370 or so, I think..

    His secretary is one of the best typists I've ever seen.

   Who's in the current lineup for Deep Purple these days?  (Other than
   Stevie, of course.)  Is Ian Gillian back?

   And here I was thinking that the stuff being talked about in the
   Satch/Morse wars was a joke.  (Well, maybe it is...)

   -- Sam
   

    Of course it's a joke, Morse could never really replace Satch.  They
    just told Morse to assume the position and he jumped in line.

Yeah Gillian is back, that's why Blackmore is gone.

back to the Morse/Satch bashing in progress...

dbii

    Well I finally went and picked up "High Tension Wires."  Right off the
    bat I'd have to say one thing:
    
    Track 7 doesn't count because he ripped it off from the Dregs! 
    
    db has been right all along:
    
    Morse IS NOT a rock guitarist!  Comparing Satch and Morse is like
    comparing Jean Luc Ponty with Mark Wood.  Both are technically
    excellent, but play different styles of music.
    
    Unlike DT, I'll probably keep this CD.  Couple things that I like about
    him are:
    
    - it's 'happy' music!  There's no darkness to these songs, they all
      sound upbeat and postive.
    - very melodic arrangements and playing.
    
    thanks db,
    Mike

re: .131

I seem to have slipped into a time warp or something, and it's 
April 1st already! :-)

-Hal

    Hmmm, I can't think of any Morse stuff that's not generally happy and
    upbeat. I must have missed some of the stuff he did. In fact, I know I
    missed a lot of stuff.

    I know, it's hard to believe it's not April 1st!  Question is, what
    else do I have to set db straight on next?  
    
    I KNOW!  Keaggy and Morse are closer in musical styles... ;-)  Naw, we
    covered part of that.  
    
    I'm at a loss for ideas at the moment.
    
    Mike (who finally has a Morse album)

    The Celtic tones in some of the tunes, like Highland Wedding, is pretty
    cool.  I can't really explain it, but I just love the Ghostwind opener. 
    It's kind of haunting, but has a beautiful melody.
    
    Mike

    
    	I'd have to listen to it again, but the only one I remember
    	liking is "Tumeni Notes".
    
    	[Anybody hear the snippet on the radio about Blues Saraceno
    	 replacing Steve Morse as guitarist for the Steve Morse Band?]
    
    							GTI
    

    It would've been cooler on "Highland Wedding" if he used an E-Bow for
    the bagpipes sound ala Keaggy.
    
    Mike

    I think he does that live almost exactly like the record so while it
    sounds like it's two parts recorded separately it's actually all played
    at once with the synth getting two or three of the strings and the
    straight guitar sound for the others.
    
    	db

>>Why he didn't do it that way - it's done LIVE

    Just had to pop in for a second and say something.  What I've learned
    about Morse is that he covers almost *everything* live!  Things you'll
    swear are overdubs (and might actually be on the recording) are pulled
    off live just like magic.

    Just fu** amazing; scares me to death, and all of it is clearly
    impossible.

    I'm done now. Thanks.
    steve

    I'm convinced.  If Steve says Morse rules, then it must be true.

    Hey Mike, I'll take those Satch CDs.   I'm now dying to find a copy
    of "Time Machine", especially for the live stuff.
    
    Satriani roolz live too.  In fact, I'll even say that his show at
    the Orpheum a few years back was the best show I've seen in about
    10 years!!!
    
    re: Steve's comment
    
    > Morse covers EVERYTHING!
    
    Yeah, when the Dregs broke up and the Steve Morse Band was mostly
    doing Dregs parts Morse ended up covering most of the violin parts
    and much of the keyboard parts on Dregs tunes they were doing!!!!
    
    I remember seeing one of the first Morse band (which is a TRIO BTW!!!)
    shows and listening to Morse play this incredible harmony line and
    I remember thinking "Wait a second!!! Wasn't that a dual line between
    him and the violin player on the record".
    
    Went back to listen to the record and sure enough it was.  Morse seems
    to have worked up a technique to play dual leads on simultaneously
    on the same guitar!!!!
    
    	db

    
    >I remember seeing one of the first Morse band (which is a TRIO BTW!!!)
    >shows and listening to Morse play this incredible harmony line and
    >I remember thinking "Wait a second!!! Wasn't that a dual line between
    >him and the violin player on the record".
    
    	Two words ... tape player backstage.
    
    	8^)
    							GTI
    

   When I saw him he was using an "infinite repeat" delay pedal.  I'm serious.

   -- Sam

    
    	Picked up "Full Circle" last nite and heard most of it in
    	the car.  Morse can really make you laugh, he's so good.
    
    	Obviously, the whole band kicks.
    
    	Highly recommended - Tom
    

    I take a small exception to Tom's recommendation about buying "Full
    Circle".
    
    Buy Satriani instead.   ;-)
    
    One more thing... I think if you haven't heard the Dregs before, I
    would NOT start out with "Full Circle".    Heck, I even think I like 
    Surfing with the Alien better.
    
    I think the first Dregs album to buy is "Dregs of the Earth".
    
    Morse's chops have definitely progressed since "Dregs of the Earth"
    (he's one of those kinda guys who everytime you think he just can NOT
    get any better, with each new album he pushes the envelope
    significantly further).    So although that album doesn't display
    the latest "state of the Morse art" in chops, I like the composition
    on the album much better, and of course the chops on that album is
    still beyond "incredible".
    
    	db
    
    p.s. At some point buy "Coast to Coast" by "The Steve Morse band" and
    	 listen to "Runway Train".
    
    	 He plays that tune 100% EXACTLY LIKE THE RECORD live!  
         It sounds like two or three guitars but I swear it's not.  I 
         have thousands of witnesses to back that up.

    db, now that I have "High Tension Wires," what album would you
    recommend me getting next?  I need to hear more of this guy.  I now
    have db to thank twice in getting me to try some new music.  He also
    inspired me to give Larry Carlton a try and I have 3 of his CDs.  
    
    BTW - when we were driving to church on Sunday, I had "Ghostwinds"
    playing in the car.  My wife gets in and says, 
    
    "Did Phil Keaggy come out with another new album?!"
    
    I'm not exactly sure what it is.  Maybe it is the knack for melodies or
    the composition style, but I hear similarities between Morse and Keaggy
    in Steve's more reflective songs.
    
    Mike

>    db, now that I have "High Tension Wires," what album would you
>    recommend me getting next?  
    
    No other album is like "High Tension Wires", many people (not I)
    feel it's his best.
    
    I'd normally recommend "Dregs of the Earth" as something to try next.
    
    > he also inspired me to give Larry Carlton a try and I have 3 of his CDs.  
    
    With Morse I might have to recommend things to get or avoid; with
    Carlton it's like "GET EVERYTHING".  The guy never plays anything
    "wrong" - that's what he's known for.
    
    My favorite is still his first "Room 335" and then his 2nd "Strikes
    Twice" and his 3rd "Sleepwalk"... after that it's a toss-up.
    
>    BTW - when we were driving to church on Sunday, I had "Ghostwinds"
>    playing in the car.  My wife gets in and says, 
    
>    "Did Phil Keaggy come out with another new album?!"
    
    Wow!   I mean I like "Ghostwind", but Keaggy's "Wind and the Wheat is
    definitely the definitive work in that genre of guitar playing.  It's
    an album full of tunes as good or better than "Ghostwind".
    
    I wish Satriani would do more tunes like this one tune he does that's
    kind in this genre.  It's a slow tune on "Surfing" and it goes 
    something likethis (although in another key perhaps)
    
    	    F             F
    	  E   E         E  E       E          E
    	C       C      C    C    D   D      D  D
    	                       A       A   G    G
    
    The lyrical lead line he plays over that is (yes, I admit it) just
    dripping wet with emotion - nothing by Morse really compares to THAT
    tune.   And the tone on that one is to die for....  I get ferklept
    when I listen to that...
    
    In fact....   I'm ferklept right now.... Talk amongst yourselves...
    
    I'll give you a topic:     Morse vs. Satriani... are either of them
    REALLY worthy of being roadies for Larry Carlton...
    
    Tawk amongst yourselves...

>    Wow!   I mean I like "Ghostwind", but Keaggy's "Wind and the Wheat is
>    definitely the definitive work in that genre of guitar playing.  It's
>    an album full of tunes as good or better than "Ghostwind".
    
    Don't you agree that they are similar in some strange way?  When I hear
    it, I could imagine Keaggy doing something exactly like it.
    
>    I wish Satriani would do more tunes like this one tune he does that's
>    kind in this genre.  It's a slow tune on "Surfing" and it goes 
>    something likethis (although in another key perhaps)
    
    Would that be "Always with Me, Always with You"?
    
    >    In fact....   I'm ferklept right now.... Talk amongst yourselves...
    
    Baruch Hashem Adonai! ;-)
    
    Mike

    Nawww...the album you guys are really looking for is "John Mayall's
    Bluesbreakers With Eric Clapton" (1966). 
    
    Hideaway, Steppin' Out, Ramblin' On My Mind, Parchman Farm...there's
    not a bad tune on it, and it is widely considered to be the album that
    *defined* not only lead guitar playing, but the classic Les Paul/Marshall 
    sound as well.
    
    Buy it - you won't be sorry.
    
    Dom ;-) ;-)

>>    Wow!   I mean I like "Ghostwind", but Keaggy's "Wind and the Wheat is
>>    definitely the definitive work in that genre of guitar playing.  It's
>>    an album full of tunes as good or better than "Ghostwind".
    
>    Don't you agree that they are similar in some strange way?  When I hear
>    it, I could imagine Keaggy doing something exactly like it.
    
    Yes, absolutely.  
    
    Actually I think of it more as "Morse doing something like Keaggy"
    since it's sort of an unusual tune for Morse, and Keaggy has done
    whole albums like that.
    
    In fact I think if you slipped that tune on "Wind and the Wheat" no
    one might suspect it wasn't written by Keaggy.
    
>    Would that be "Always with Me, Always with You"?
    
    Yes, I'm pretty sure that's the one.   I love that tune.
    

    > Nawww...the album you guys are really looking for is "John Mayall's
    > Bluesbreakers With Eric Clapton" (1966).
    
    Ummm... you must be new here right?
    
    ;-)
    
    Now where were we Mike???

>    Nawww...the album you guys are really looking for is "John Mayall's
>    Bluesbreakers With Eric Clapton" (1966). 
.
.
.
>   Buy it - you won't be sorry.

    This is the "Bean-o" album, right?  No offense or anything, but...  I
    bought it and I was sorry.  I found that album to be pretty lack
    luster.  I'd read all kinds of things about how wonderful it was and
    how it influenced so many people and all before getting it and,
    well...it basically put me to sleep.  In the same genre, I loved
    listening to artists like Muddy Waters and BB King, but Mayall,
    Clapton, and the other gentlemen just didn't seem to have the same
    spark.
    
    Greg

    John Mayall is a big poof!
    

    Buck 
    	is there anyone who has ever even been in the same room as Clapton
    that you like....8^).
    
    P.K.
    
    Ps I hear eric is the new guitarist for dream theatre. 8^).

Clapton in Dream Theatre - what a hoot.

   >This is the "Bean-o" album, right?  No offense or anything, but...  I
   >bought it and I was sorry.  I found that album to be pretty lack
   >luster. 
    
    Well, I won't bother with the smilies next time! Er, Greg (and db), when I 
    recommended that John Mayall album, I didn't *really* think you'd like
    it. I mean, I'd hardly have recommended it in the Steve Morse note, now
    would I? Apart from anything else, I'd have been amazed if you hadn't 
    already heard it! Didn't reckon on either of you *owning* it, though.
    
    Sure, I think it's a great record - but I wouldn't expect either of you
    to go wild about it any more than you could expect me to go chasing up
    Steve Morse's back catalogue. Larry Carlton's another kettle of fish; I
    always liked his work on Steely Dan records (mind you, I preferred Jeff
    "Skunk" Baxter!) and sessions elsewhere, though I've never heard his
    solo work.
    
    Dream Theatre? I've only heard a couple of things. I thought they were
    extraordinary from a technical viewpoint. But as far as music with a
    capital "M" is concerned, to my ears they "sucked big time" (as I
    believe you guys say on the other side of the pond!). Still, takes all
    sorts to make a world, horses for courses, live and let live, etc, etc. 
    We might just be able to find some common ground in the Yes/King
    Crimson school of progressive rock, though. And I'm sure there are a
    few jazz guitarists we could agree on.
     
    Ooops, that makes 2 entries for me in the Steve Morse note...
    
    Dom
              

    >Ps I hear eric is the new guitarist for dream theatre. 8^).
    
    Yeah -- and then he woke up -- in a cold sweat, cuz the ensemble had
    just broken into one of their infamous "dregs" sections...

    >>Ps I hear eric is the new guitarist for dream theatre. 8^).

    > Clapton in Dream Theatre - what a hoot.
    
    Yes, the band is going to be called "Cream Theater"

    > Well, I won't bother with the smilies next time! Er, Greg (and db),
    > when I recommended that John Mayall album, I didn't *really* think
    > you'd like it.
    
    Since you mention me explicitly,
    
    Dude, I knew that.
    
    My reply to you was intended to be offered in the same sort of jest.
    It also had smilie faces.
    
    	db

Carlton? I thought that was a cheep cigarette!

add a couple of :-)'s

dbii

    Dream Theatre could use a bit of Clapton's soul.

    > Dream Theatre could use a bit of Clapton's soul.
    
    I thought Clapton sold his soul to the devil?

re: .162

>    I thought Clapton sold his soul to the devil?

What!?  He sold his soul to Steve Vai?  :-) :-)

    Vai is just the devil's pawn.  The devil is really...
    
    SATariANi!

    re: Dom
    
    Who knows what the smilies mean, they're different for everyone!
    
>    Well, I won't bother with the smilies next time! Er, Greg (and db), when I 
>    recommended that John Mayall album, I didn't *really* think you'd like
>    it. I mean, I'd hardly have recommended it in the Steve Morse note, now
>    would I? Apart from anything else, I'd have been amazed if you hadn't 
>    already heard it! Didn't reckon on either of you *owning* it, though.
    
    Uh...but..I don't like Steve Morse, or a lot of "progressive" music
    either.  See, anti-Clapton doesn't necessarily mean anti-blues, and
    anti-blues doesn't necessarily mean progressive.  Anti-progressive
    doesn't necessarily mean blues.  
    
    Um..I think I've confused myself...
     
    I really don't like music, I just hang out in this notesfile to talk
    about gear.
    
    Greg

>    I really don't like music, I just hang out in this notesfile to talk
>    about gear.
    
    HA!  You gearhead, you!
    

Db's comment:
    
>>    I take a small exception to Tom's recommendation about buying "Full
>>    Circle".

    Upon first listen, I didn't like it.  However, I have now come around
    to where I like it a lot.  I think it is a bit strange compositionally,
    though.  Maybe not strange, but certainly unexpected. What I mean by
    that is that it seems to be a weird combination of of what I'd expect
    to hear on a Dregs recording and what I'd expect to hear on a Steve
    Morse Band recording.  It sounds a little like the Dregs got SMB'd from
    a compositional standpoint, if you know what I mean.  Still, the
    compositions are quite good and the playing is, of course, phenomenal.

    Is this what bothers you about Full Circle, Db?

    steve

    >    Is this what bothers you about Full Circle, Db?
    
    I guess that's a major part of it.
    
    Steve Morse has said that writing for a three-piece has forced him to
    "economize" his writing and that he did carry that forward in writing
    the Full Circle album.
    
    He cites it as a good thing.  I don't.
    
    He's probably had about as much as he can take about having "too many
    notes" and complicated arrangements but if so, I think it's a big
    mistake.  What a lot of people liked about his stuff is that it
    challenges your ear.   
    
    He may take a simple theme and do it in several time signatures, or
    with shifting beatings or what not.   And while some philistines will
    no doubt dismiss that as flashy or complexity for complexities sake,
    I view it as providing the music with an interesting spice.
    
    You might say "that's the same theme as before... but there's something
    different about it".
    
    Anyway, I hope he hasn't given into the criticism.   It's what his fans
    appreciate most about his music, and the critics are people who I view
    as just not being able to appreciate it as others do.   Or, as we've
    joked about in MUSIC, people who seek only "musical hamburgers".

    I love Morse's sound when he plays through his Marshall.  I wish he
    would use it more ;-)
    
    Mike

    There is an interview of Morse in the new issue of Monitor Magazine,
    the Peavey publication.  The Vol with the interview has a picture the 
    Neville(sp?) brother that sings like the voice on the Cotton
    commercial on the cover.  The interview covered some really personal 
    issues and a few technical issues such as comparing the guitar to a 
    keyboard and scales Vs. phrasing.  
    
    Good reading.
    
    Mark 

    So is Steve endorsing some piece of PV gear these days?
    

    Well, I guess db's gonna be a Peavey man soon!
    
    ;^)'s
    
    
    	Fred 

    Morse has a Peavey amp endorsement.
    
    Accrording to an article I read last night, he's using a mixture of 
    VTM's and 5150 with Deep Purple.   
    
    Ironically, he was really singing some high praises for the 5150s...
    something like "the first head to provide more distortion than I'll
    ever need".
    
    > Well, I guess db's gonna be a Peavey man soon!
    
    Actually I looked at getting a VTM years ago.  I might check out the
    5150 combo but I think I'm going to stick to my Boogie Mark IIB.
    When it's working right (no bad tubes) and when I have the time to
    really set it up and dial in the tone it's still the only amp that
    really does it for me. 
    
    I look for that "singing lead", kinda like a very high gain but NO
    buzzy (clipping) type distortion and I've only heard that from Boogies
    so far.
    
    Basically I don't covet Morse's sound.   The guy whose sound *I* covet
    is Larry Carlton.
    
    	db

    speaking of re-tubing a Boogie, does anyone know if/where you can get
    the old Sylvania STR415 6L6s that Mesa used to sell?  In a GP recently
    they mentioned that the old Boogies were literally designed around this
    tube.  And I need new toobs for my Mark I.
    
    By coincidence, I think they also mentioned that PV was using these in
    the 5150s.  Does PV perhaps sell these tubes now?
    
    /rick

    It's kind of strange.  In the last Peavey magazine he was shone
    demonstrating Peavey's new line of acoustic guitars at NAMM but it also
    showed him in both issues of the magazine playing his blue
    Musicman guitar (the one with 4 pickups).  The interview doesn't
    discuss equipment at all.  It showed a different side of Morse that I
    had not seen.  He almost sounded like he had an inferriority complex.
    I mean, he's got to know how good he is.
    
    I think his only Peavey guitar is his flattop.  I've never seen him
    using any Peavey stuff on stage other than in one of his video training
    tapes he uses what looks like one of the classic 212 series.
    
    Mark

    Ick -- 
    
    I'm not a Peavey basher, but their acoustics are definitely low-end
    (at least the ones I've tried).  OK for the money, but not anywhere
    close to a quality instrument.
    
    Jim

>    It's kind of strange.  In the last Peavey magazine he was shone
>    demonstrating Peavey's new line of acoustic guitars at NAMM but it also
>    showed him in both issues of the magazine playing his blue
>    Musicman guitar (the one with 4 pickups).  
    
    Just because he has an amp endorsement with Peavey doesn't imply that
    he uses NOTHING but Peavey products.
    
    He has had guitar endorsements with Fender but don't believe them.
    The only time I ever saw him play the Fender he was endorsing live was on
    a tune that had a different tuning.
    
    >It showed a different side of Morse that I had not seen.  He almost
    >sounded like he had an inferriority complex. I mean, he's got to know
    >how good he is.
    
    I've spent a fair amount of time talking with him.  He certainly does
    NOT have an inferiority complex but... he is incredibly modest.  When
    someone THAT good is so modest it's almost weird.  I would definitely
    say he is "modest to a fault".
    
    And while I know most of you will attribute it to bias, I swear that he
    is definitely the NICEST world-class musician you will EVER meet, and
    I've heard that same remark from countless fans.  He is ALWAYS
    available for autographs after every show/clinic/etc.
    
>    I think his only Peavey guitar is his flattop.  I've never seen him
>    using any Peavey stuff on stage other than in one of his video training
>    tapes he uses what looks like one of the classic 212 series.
    
    I've seen him use Peavey stuff.  His favorite head though seems to be
    an old Marshall that was donated to the band by James Brown (yes, "the"
    James Brown), an early supporter of the Dregs.
    
    	db

    PV :== Lame amps for lame players!

    -1
    
    I think I'll extract that for the day Satriani switches over...

I was wonder if Buck would comment, on the other hand lumping you up with Steve
Morse couldn't really be considered a slam in my book.

dbii

    Sorry Buck, I forgot you played PV.  

    << Note 506.178 by OUTSRC::HEISER "Hoshia Nah,Baruch Haba B'shem Adonai" >>
    
    << PV :== Lame amps for lame players!
    
    
    	You don't get out much do you???
    
    
    
    

    PV :== is bad syntax. Either you are assigning lame_amps to
    PV, in which case the syntax is "PV := lame_amps", or you
    are using the == in an expression, thus yielding a value
    of True or False, in which case the syntax is "PV == lame_amps".
    
    Hope this helps...
    
    -b

    actually PV :== lame_amps is perfectly legal. Makes it a GLOBAL 
    symbol so any of his processes know it.
    
    Larry

    
    Why don't anyone mention he has a new solo album out. I think the title
    is something like 'Structure And Damage' - I heard one track on the
    radio, very melodic and a typical building up Morse solo..
    
    Poul
    

    
    	This month's GP has a small blurb about Steve joining Deep
    	Purple.  One practice and they ask him to join the band.
    	

    The new album is called "Structural Damage" and it is a Steve Morse
    band album (Dave LaRue and Van Romaine, no guests on this one).
    
    Naturally I have the new album, and naturally on the first couple of
    listens it didn't appeal to me.  ;-)
    
    But, I now love the first tune (can't remember the name) and more
    and am beginning to appreciate more of the album.  However, I can't
    imagine at this point that this album will become one of my Morse
    favorites.
    
    Ironically, the Morse album I now have really come to love is the
    previous album by the Dregs, "Full Circle".  
    
    	db

    
    	Another 2 or 3 dozen listens and you'll think it's the best
    	thing since sliced bread.  8^)
    

    I'll have to look for it in the used bin.

    There's a good interview with Steve Morse in the June 95 issue of
    Metronome (Boston area music rag).  The following excerpts reprinted
    without permission:
    
    Metro: I don't hear a lot of rootsy blues in your soloing, is that
    right?
    
    Morse: "I'm just more energetic.  We used to tour with the Dregs and
    play with Muddy Waters alot.  And I always went to every B. B. King
    concert I could.  And I don't know if you consider Johnny Winter rootsy
    blues, but I do.  Because he's so authentic."
    
    Metro: Have you heard Clapton's 'From the Cradle?'
    
    Morse: "Yeah.  Clapton, man, he's great.  In fact, I've probably had
    more blues influence from him than anybody else.  Because the way he
    would do it... just never heard anybody do it more melodically."
    
    There are other good tidbits in this article, including some stuff
    about the Purple gig.  Worth checking out.
    
    /rick
    

    re: .190
    
    Does this mean that "db" will start to like Clapton?
    
    
    ;^)'s
    
    
    	Fred (who's startin' trouble again)

    
    >Morse: "Yeah.  Clapton, man, he's great.  In fact, I've probably had
    >more blues influence from him than anybody else.  Because the way he
    >would do it... just never heard anybody do it more melodically."
    
    Ooops...now you've put the cat among the pigeons, Rick! Kinda like if
    the Klu Klux Klan suddenly started advocating the works of Martin
    Luther King ;-) Not that I'm suggesting that Steve Morse has anything
    in common with the Klu Klux Klan... 
    
    Hmm, I predict a few nervous breakdowns in this conference - or have
    they already sulked off en masse to the tranquility (!) of HEAVY_METAL?
    
    Dom
    

    
    Well, what did you expect Steve Morse to say, "Clapton sucks"?
    
    How often do you hear one musical performer trash another? Not
    too often, eh? It's sort of an unspoken music industry rule:
    Thou Shalt Not Trash Thy Fellow Performer, Regardless Of How
    Badly They Deserve It!
    
    Who knows, somewhere down the line, Morse could end up getting
    the call from Mr. C to appear on a recording... and royalties
    are royalties. I privately think Whitney Houston blows chunks,
    but if she ever rings the phone... I'm there! (Not that I'm
    expecting such a thing to happen; it's just an example.)
    
    -b

    
    	We HM people are still here ... I guess we finally realized that
    	mom was right: "If you can't say anything nice, then don't say
    	anything at all".
    
    	OK, seriously, we knew we were right but knew it was hopeless to
    	try and force the truth down your throats.  8^)
    
    	And bad-mouthing does happen occasionally, but for the most part
    	is limited to a band bad-mouthing itself after a break-up [see
    	DLR/VH and Vince Neil/Motley Crue].
    
    
    	RE: .194/.193
    
    	Brian, for $50 I won't tell her you said that.  And for another
    	$50 I'll put in a good word for you.  8^)

    Morse sure went out of his way to praise Sloooowhand. ;-)

    Maybe we should start a Steve Morse's opinion sucks note....8^).
    
    
    
    
    
    
    P.K.
    

    If Clapton is so bad these days, I wonder why my neighbor tried
    to swap his tickets for a Morse show (claims he can't make it) for my
    two tix to see EC in September :-)  And his Morse tickets were not
    6 rows from the stage!!
    

    
    	Maybe he needs some filler material for his upcoming thesis,
    	which is titled, of course, "Clapton sucks".
    
    	8^)
    

    "What do you think of ____" questions are the unmistakeable mark of a
    sophomoric interviewer. 
    
    I'll never forget the time Al DiMeola did a clinic at the Nashua
    Daddy's and got an endless string of these questions from the teenagers
    in the audience and eventually started answering with "Oh, he's great"
    in a monotonic voice.

>>    Well, what did you expect Steve Morse to say, "Clapton sucks"?
    
>>    How often do you hear one musical performer trash another? Not
>>    too often, eh? It's sort of an unspoken music industry rule:
>>    Thou Shalt Not Trash Thy Fellow Performer, Regardless Of How
>>    Badly They Deserve It!

>    Morse sure went out of his way to praise Sloooowhand. ;-)

    I feel like I know Steve Morse's influences quite well.  I mean I've
    read nearly every interview the guy has ever done and I've even spoken
    with him a few times about his influences and what he listens to.

    And I know you guys will not believe this but Brian and Mike have
    given what I believe is the correct interpretation of Steve's remarks.

    I have never ever heard Steve Morse trash another artist.   I've never
    heard him even say "he's OK".   He never seems to say anything other
    than "I haven't heard anything by him" or "Yeah, he's great" when asked
    about a specific artist. In fact, I'd say without hesitation that Steve
    is NOTORIOUS for answering those kinds of questions that way.

    However, when not asked about a specific artist, and asked "who
    are your influences?" I have never heard him mention Clapton.  I can
    give you a long list of people he has mentioned.

    BTW, I'm not denying that Steve has a lot of respect for Clapton, and
    that he has been influenced by him and the blues.   What I am telling
    you is that I severely doubt that Eric Clapton is very high up on
    Steve Morse's list of influences and that you can really ascribe
    ANYTHING to his answer no matter who it was asked about.
    
    	db
    
    p.s.  Makes me really appreciate some of the HM guitarists who will answer
    	  that question with "He sucks!".    It's a stupid thing to say
          (IMHO) for a lot of reasons, but I at least appreciate the honesty.

    haha, you guyz are too much!
    
    I guess Steve thought it was a good idea to mention Muddy Waters,
    B.B. King and Johnny Winter too, in case they might offer him a gig
    someday.
    

    > Reality bites, eh?
    
    > haha, you guyz are too much!
    
    Somehow I knew you'd interpret my answer that way.
    
    I defer to your superior knowledge and insight as to the "reality"
    what Steve Morse's influences were and how he handles interviews.
    
    	db

    thanks!
    

    Well, anyone who's ever heard an interview with Eric Clapton will know
    that he too is forever waxing lyrical about other guitarists, e.g. "X is
    the most lyrical player I know...Y has the sweetest vibrato I've ever
    heard", etc. Just off the top of my head, I can recall Clapton saying 
    great things about Big Bill Broonzy, Segovia, Brian May, Johnny Guitar
    Watson, Howard Roberts, Freddie King, Robert Cray, Frank Zappa and Chuck 
    Berry. And probably a million others. 
    
    However, I doubt that you'll ever catch him saying that Eddie Van Halen 
    or Yngwie Malmsteen are *influences* ;-) I remember an interesting 
    interview with Steve Stills a few years back (hmm, about 20 years back!); 
    he was basically saying that most of the best guitarists he knew could
    also play great rhythm, and he listed Clapton and Joe Walsh among
    others. The interviewer then mentioned Pate Townshend, at which point
    Stills said: "Weeeell, Townshend's into a whole different bag!" (as a
    Brit, I didn't have a clue what he meant at the time, but I guessed!).
    I'm sure Morse would have said the same about Clapton if he really 
    thought his playing was lousy. That and the fact that I'm sure his 
    vocabulary is well beyond the "X sux" routine that seem to be in 
    vogue here...
    
    None of which is of the slightest importance, because I'm sure that
    neither Clapton or Morse would understand what all the fuss was about.
    It's just hilarious that Rick managed to find that interview with Steve
    Morse after all the putdowns of Clapton in this conference ;-) 
    
    Dom
    

>    I'm sure Morse would have said the same about Clapton if he really 
>    thought his playing was lousy. 
    
    I would've too until Rick set me straight on that.  ;-)
    
    	db

>    My guitar hero is better than your guitar hero.
>    Oh yeah, well my guitar hero thinks your guitar hero sux!
    
    One thing real important here:  I do not believe "Morse is better than
    Clapton".   I think I appreciate Morse and I don't appreciate Clapton.
    
    I also do not believe that "Morse thinks Clapton sux".
    
    	db
    
    p.s. One of my VERY VERY favorite guitar players, Eddie Van Halen, cites
    	 Eric Clapton as his absolute #1 main influence.   That doesn't
    	 change my opinion about Eddie (nor Eric).

>>    I'm sure Morse would have said the same about Clapton if he really 
>>    thought his playing was lousy. 
    
>    I would've too until Rick set me straight on that.  ;-)
    
    
    Well now, isn't that what this notesfile is for? Exchange of
    information in the workplace and all that... ;-)
    
    Dom

    db's kind words to the contrary, I don't pretend to know what Steve
    Morse is thinking.  But I do recommend this interview.  It's hardly
    'sophomoric'; the questions are for the most part interesting and
    Steve gives sincere, well thought-out answers.  Read it, enjoy it,
    judge it if you must.
    
    I didn't print all of the Clapton comments before, but perhaps they
    would be of interest here.
    
    "I got kind of worried when he was doing that 'Slow hand' stuff, you
     know, the more clean Strat.  I mean, it was fine and he's always
     musical, but I missed the harder attack".
    
    Rather detailed, thoughtful, and lacking in pretense wouldn't you say?
    
    /ripley
    

    So here we are trying to defend Steve Morse's sincerity/integrity...and
    db just won't have any of it ;-)
    
    Strange world, innit? ;-)
    
    Dom

    Rick,
    
    Ask yourself if there are artists whom you follow that are not at all
    principle influence and yet whom YOU could give answers that are
    "rather detailed, thoughtful, and lacking in pretense".
    
    I could've made similar statements about Madonna.  I like
    some of her stuff, but she's not exactly a major influence of mine.
    
    The fact remains that I've never heard Steve Morse cite Clapton as
    an influence until this prompted question.   
    
    You want to believe that Clapton was a big influence on Morse
    apparently and I have no problem with that.  I'm not even "sure" you're
    wrong, I just don't think there's much reason to believe it.
    
    	db
    
    p.s. I defy you to find an interview with Morse where he has responded 
         with anything other than high praise or "I'm not familiar..."
    	 to such sophomoric questions.

>    So here we are trying to defend Steve Morse's sincerity/integrity...and
>    db just won't have any of it ;-)
    
    Gee Dom, I thought this was obvious from what several of us have said 
    but if not:
    
    	We regard those kinds of "high praise" answers as a DEMONSTRATION
    	of his integrity.
    
    If you think that an artist responding to such questions with "he
    sucks" (or even just saying "I don't like his music") is demonstrating
    "integrity" than I suggest you have a different definition of the word
    than some of us.
    
    	db

    Actually, earlier in the interview long *before* that awful question
    was asked, Steve Morse did offer up a list of influences.  I'm sure
    these are neither complete nor definitive, but he did see fit to mention
    them by name:
    
    "Chuck Berry, John Lennon, George Harrison, Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page,
     Jeff Beck, Hendrix, Rick Derringer, John McLaughlin, Pat Metheny,
     Stan Sanole (a teacher), and Steve Howe."
    
>>  The fact remains that I've never heard Steve Morse cite Clapton as
>>  an influence until this prompted question.   
    
    I guess you have now.
    
    /rick
    
    ps contrary to expressed opinion, I'm not championing any particular
    cause or point of view here.  I have no idea how much anyone influenced
    anyone else, and frankly could care less.  I posted these excerpts
    because I knew they would be provocative given the nature of this
    conference (I guess they were) and especially because they seemed
    to be sincere and not just blowing smoke.
    

    btw, Steve gracefully sidestepped another question (to his credit I
    would say) re which guitarists he most 'admired'.
    
    My favorite of the interview:
    
    Metro:  As a recent 40-year-old, how do you stay in shape for rock and
    roll... and the whole image thing?
    
    Morse:  "Well... [long pause] If you can keep up with three kids, then
    going on the road is like a vacation."
    
    I couldn't agree more :-)
    

    > "Chuck Berry, John Lennon, George Harrison, Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page,
    >      Jeff Beck, Hendrix, Rick Derringer, John McLaughlin, Pat Metheny,
    >      Stan Sanole (a teacher), and Steve Howe."
    
    Gee, there are a lot of new names on that list.  Or maybe I've just
    never seen him do that long a list.
    
    Maybe EC does make the 12 person cut.
    
FredAb>    Does this mean that "db" will start to like Clapton?
    
    No Fred, this is more likely to mean that "db" will start to dislike
    Morse.
    
    ;-)
    
    	db

    this kinder gentler stuff is annoying me.
    
    Steve Morse is a big girl's nancy blouse!

    re: .218
    
    I agree.   As I've stated, what he's said in the past gave me reason to
    doubt a (shall we say) "prompted" question like "What do you think of
    Clapton?".   Prior to this I have no memory of him ever expressing any
    opinion about Clapton.
    
    Maybe, it's just not the kind of thing I'd remember.  ;-)

    
    	I'm just totally shocked that Steve didn't discuss this
    	with you beforehand, db.  I mean, he must know your
    	feelings towards Clapton and blooze...    ;-)
    

    One thing I've got to mention Dave.  You keep misquoting the notorious
    'question' as "What do you think of Clapton?".  This is just plain
    wrong.  The context was, a previous question discussed the general
    topic of blues.  The question then reads "Have you heard 'From the
    Cradle'?"  Not "What do you think of it?" (arguably this can be
    inferred, but it doesn't even necessarily demand such a response) and
    no mention whatsoever of the need for an opinion on Clapton himself.
    
    Steve Morse could have quite reasonably offered several alternate
    answers:
    
    "I haven't had much time to listen to other stuff lately, being
     out on the road and all".
    
    "Yeah, those old tunes are great.  I thinks it's valuable that he's
     presenting these to a younger audience, who might otherwise never
     get to hear them"
    
    "Yeah, Eric has been talking about that project for a long time.  Glad
     to see he finally did it.  I've got a similar pet project I've been
     wanting to do..."
    
    I can come up with plenty more.  In fact, answers such as these seem
    more in line with the actual question that was asked.  The fact that
    Steve stepped beyond the bounds of the actual question to offer up
    his expressed admiration for Eric himself speaks volumes on the
    sincerety of the remarks.
    
    If you want to try to discredit a direct quote, it pays to get the
    quote right.
    
    /rick
    

   But Rick, you don't seem to understand.  db just likes to argue, especially
   if he can mention Steve Morse more than 40 times in a single posting.

   -- Sam

>   One thing I've got to mention Dave.  You keep misquoting the notorious
>   'question' as "What do you think of Clapton?".  This is just plain
>   wrong.  The context was, a previous question discussed the general
>   topic of blues.  
    
    Yes, and when I made my comments about the silliness of the question I
    had made it very clear that I had no reason to believe that it was in
    the context of the topic of blues because Morse hasn't done much blues,
    and had never cited it as being important to him.
    
    

    Wow. Saturday night at the "Galaxy Concert Theatre" in Costa Mesa CA,
    The Steve Morse Band played for 1 hr & 45 minutes. As usual, incredible
    show! They played a few songs from the new "Structural Damage" CD, and
    some older "SMB" stuff, and some Dregs tunes as well. Mere words cannot
    describe the performance.
    
    Opening band was OK (forgot their name). 2nd act was "Mark Seal", kind
    of a cross between Vinnie Moore & Yngwie. Very good player. Did a great
    version of Charlie Daniels "Devil went down to Georgia", plus some
    tasty original stuff. If you get a chance to see this guy...go, you
    won't be disappointed.
    
    Also, a very good interview with Steve Morse (year old, but still good) 
    on the net at:
    
    http://www.teleport.com/~kevinf/morseint.html
    
    Bob
    

    In case anyone is interested, the new Steve Morse Band album
    "StressFest" has been released.
    
    Rumor has it that its almost as emotional as a Phil Keaggy album.  ;-)
    
    Also of interest, the new Deep Purple album that Morse plays on
    is now available in a domestic release.  The domestic release
    has one track not on the european import.
    
    	db

    Re: StressFest 
    
    I know he's the unemotive one but I'm surprised that he would put out a
    stress relaxation album.  

    
    	How's the album, Dave?  Any good?
    
    	Or should we wait a week or 7 while you give it 25 spins?
    
    	8^)
    

>    	How's the album, Dave?  Any good?
>    	Or should we wait a week or 7 while you give it 25 spins?
    
    I think should save your money and buy Phil Keaggy albums instead
    because he is more "emotive".
    
    ;-)
    
    Well, the first tune grabbed my ear right away and I really like that
    tune.
    
    On the first couple of listens, my impression is that this album is
    a bit different in direction than previous albums.  The song structures
    seem much simpler, and at times the album seems more like a collection
    of "jams" than the usual intricate and complex compositions that Morse
    is known for.  I mean, he even plays a bluesy tune!
    
    On the other hand, (again) on first impression, the album has some
    of his most interesting soloing in awhile.  I was starting to get
    bored (very bored) with the set of classic Morse riff ideas (you know,
    like the series of doubly-ascending scale-based riffs) and I think
    this album has solos that are a bit more adventurous.
    
    The conclusion I have come to is that Morse REALLY needs to be in
    a band like the Dregs.   As incredible a guitar player as he is
    (attested to by his 5 straight years as GP's "Best Overall Guitar
    Player"), I think what attracts me to his music most is his
    composition.
    
    Guitar trios just don't afford him the opportunity to right that kinda
    "electronic chamber music" that the Dregs used to do.  
    
    I put most of his solo career albums a notch below almost any Dregs
    albums ("High Tension Wires", "Stand Up" and "The Introduction"
    are perhaps exceptions).  I think his best album of the last couple
    of years was, not surprisingly, the Dregs reunion ("Full Circle")
    album.   
    
    So... I think the album shows a lot of promise, but as you apparently
    are aware, I really do need to listen to it quite a bit more.  As much
    as I have loved past Morse efforts, they usually leave me cold on
    the first couple of listens.
    
    So I reserve my final judgement on this one.
    
    It's worth mentioning though that I'm starting to really like
    "Purpendicular" (Morse's new album with Deep Purple).   
    
    	db

    
    	Well, I already "wasted" my money on this one the other day,
    	although I haven't listened to it yet.  8^)
    
    	But I should be able to get to it tonight, after I finish
    	the 2nd spin of the new Rage Against the Machine album.
    

    going by db's review, I may actually pick this one up.

>    going by db's review, I may actually pick this one up.
    
    Mike, the new album is so emotionally that you'll want to have a box of
    tissues nearby when you listen to it. 
    
    Oh.. and by the way... to Blues/R&B GUITAR notes afficionados... do
    NOT... repeat... DO NOT pick up this album.   I'll say no more than
    that.  ;-)
    
    	db

>    Mike, the new album is so emotionally that you'll want to have a box of
>    tissues nearby when you listen to it. 
    
    I'm ferklempt just thinking about it.  tawk amongst yourselves...

    In fact... it's so emotional, that when Joe Satriani listened to
    it, he had to be sedated afterwards.